great gatsby film versions

The great gatsby being a novel has been made into several film versions for viewers to actually see the novel and get a glimpse of the 1920's firsthand. The first film version was made in 1926 by Herbert Brenon starring Warner Baxter, Lois Wilson, and William Powell. The second film version made was made in 1949 by Elliott Nugent starring Alan Ladd, Betty Field, and Shelley Winters. For some copy rights reason, the film is not available anymore. The most famous version yet to be displayed was created in 1974 by Jack Clayton starring Robert Redford in the title role with Mia Farrow as Daisy Buchanan and Sam Waterston as Nick Carraway. Finaly, the last film version made was created in 2000 by Robert Markowitz starring Toby Stephens, Paul Rudd and Mira Sorvino. This film was made for television.

The Green Light

The green light is important in the novel The Great Gatsby because it represents Jay Gatsby's feelings toward Daisy. That light belongs to Daisy Buchanan, who Gatsby has been in love with for years. It is symbolic for many things such as hope, dreams, envy, and prosperity. Gatsby would stare at that green light almost every night dreaming of Daisy across the lake.

It represents his hopes that Daisy will love him and be with him in the future. To Gatsby, Daisy is the love of his life and he will do anything for her. Daisy's green light is symbolic for Gatsby's dream of meeting Daisy again. When he looks into the green light he dreams of Daisy and thier life together.

The greeen light can also be symbolic for envy. The color green has been known for jealousy and wealth. In the novel, Gatsby is very jealous of Tom and his marriage with Daisy. When he looks at that green light he maybe filled with envy towards the Buchanans. The color green also represents money. It is symbolic for the Buchanan's rich and glorious life style. When Gatsby looks at the light, it could remind him of where he was financially before he met Daisy and then after. Daisy didn't marry Gatsby before, because he was a poor boy, and just like Daisy says in the book, "rich girls don't marry poor boys." Once Gatsby came back from the war he successfully became rich and the green light on Daisy's dock may remind him of that.

Information Provided by:
http://www.allfreeessays.com/essays/Symbolism-Green-Light/947.html
&
Gabriella Laszczyk

Selfish People

People who are very selfish tend to show a very passive, or uncaring characteristic toward others. They come off as very mean or snobby to make themselves feel superior. Selfish people always put themselves and their needs before anyone or anything. They only give effort and support to their own priorities, or goals and not even worry about those who might really care about them.



They also could be manipulative and scheme or plot against other people for their own purposes. This can be caused by the fear of loss of control. They tend to control everything by ruining someone’s reputation or by misinterpreting information.



Usually selfish people get there poor personalities by low self esteem which can give them a negative attitude at life and making them careless of others in general. They become bad listeners and give hardly any consideration to what others have to say. They are self-centered and have little or no understanding for compassion. They would cut off conversations almost always, bring the focus on themselves, or usually run away from any controdiction or problem. These are similar characteristics of Daisy Buchanan from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Provided information by: http://www.mysticmadness.com/5-characteristics-and-traits-of-selfish-people.html
Also by: Gabriella Laszczyk

1920's

The 1920's or the "Roaring Twenties" was a time of celebration and new excitment. Production was booming and clubs were raving. In the early 1920's new inventions were coming out such as, the very popular, radio and the Television. Radio was the big hit of the 20's because it interested people with comedy, news, live events, sport games, shows, movies, opera, and most importantly jazz!



Jazz became a huge fad in the 1920's; it introduced new dance moves such as the Charleston, Fox-Trot, and the Shimmy. Everyone listened to jazz. They even had dance marathons, that everyone went to, every weekend. The longest dance record ever recorded was a record of 3 weeks of dancing. However, dancing and partying led to Prohibition.



Prohibition became a huge part of the 1920's. It supposed to lower crime and corruption, social problems, lower taxes to help out prisons and poorhouses, and improve health and hygiene in the U.S. Of course no one liked this law so they came up hidden clubs called speakeasies. They were called speakeasies because the bootleggers (smugglers) needed the participants to keep it quiet since it was illegal to have the alcohol; but that didnt stop flappers and gentlemen from getting their hands on a good drink or dancing to jazz music in the 1920's. It was a decade full of excitement and new beginings for all Americans.
By:
http://www.kyrene.k12.az.us/schools/brisas/sunda/decade/1920.htm

http://www.1920-30.com/prohibition/
&
Gabriella Laszczyk

Unrequited Love

Unrequited love is defined as love that is not understood as such, even though reciprocation is usually deeply desired. The beloved may or may not be aware of the admirer's deep affections. Unrequited love is a sad type of love that many people experience and often get sad over.

In the great gatsby unrequited love has been afflicted. For instance there is unrequited love between Jay gatsby himself and daisy. They have deep affections for eachother although she is married. Even though she is married they have a past that connects them together and brings them together.

Another example of requited love is between Tom, Daisy's husband and his mistress Merdle. They have a secret love affair that cannot be revealed because Tom is married to Daisy.

Jealousy

Jealousy

Jealousy is an interesting emotion that can trigger unwanted anger. It effects people differently and usually makes them angry or sad. It can ruin relationships or sometimes make people do things they normally wouldn't do. Jealousy can cause a mental uneasiness and can destroy a person from inside to out.



In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby is obviously in love with Daisy, who is married to Tom Buchanan. They had a brief love affair before Gatsby went off to war and when he came back he found out the two were married. Years later Gatsby reunites with Daisy and becomes jealous of Tom and their marriage. Gatsby actually confronts Tom about his lust for Daisy but the marriage still continued.

Myrtle Wilson was dissatisfied with her husband, George, for his lack of wealth. She craved elegant parties and fancy valuables. She admired the rich life, so when she started her affair with Tom, her emotions were out of sync. Her desires overwhelmingly blinded her sight of the true morals that she once lived by.

- By: Gabriella Laszczyk

F. Scott Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitgerald

Francis Scott Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896 and unfortunately passed away on December 21, 1940. Fitzgerald was definately a man of his own world and it obviously worked for him. He is buried in Hollywood California with many other amazing celebraties. Malcolm Cowley one said that Fitzgerald was surely a man who lived in a room full of clocks and calenders. his own career launched along with the booming nation in the 1920s.



His father, Edward Fitzgerald, came from Maryland and his job took him to Buffalo then Sarycuse during Francis' first decade. After a while, Edward was let go from the company and became a heavy drinker, however he always tuaght his son proper manners and how to behave. Francis Fitzgerald was raised with little money but was taught very well in school.



Years later, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote the book The Great Gatsby in France, where he, his wife, and his daughter spent most their life in the 1920s. Fitzgerald based Daisy, a beautiful lady in the book, on his wife Zelda. Besides The Great Gatsby, Fitgerald wrote many other famous books and was admired by many. Most of his novels are still read today.

this is based on my findings from: F. Scott Biography;
http://people.brandeis.edu/~teuber/fitzgeraldbio.html

Mafia Gangsters in the 1920s.

During the 1920s mafia gangsters were often dressed as classy business men. They marked a decade of silk suits, diamond rings, booze, speakeasies, guns,affairs, ect. Everyone saw gangsters as bootlegger, "acting above the law," lifestyle and introduced fame, money, cars, homes, drugs, drinks, and women to the new era.

They definately dressed to impress back in the day and ran many different speakeasies during the Prohibition era. Many of them illegally, smuggled in alcohol during the 1920's because of the easy money they made from many flappers and men begging for a drink.

Some original criminals during this time was: Al "Scarface" Capone, "Lunky" Luciano, "Bugs" Moran (AKA Jack "Legs" Diamond), and "Dutch" Schultz. Almost all of them made millions of dollars by supplying beer and liquor to speakeasies around the country. Gangsters solidified pure urban culture in the 1920s and defined the true criminal businessmen of America.

PROHIBITION

Prohibition in the 1920's

In the 1920's alcohol was banned. Manufacture, sale, and transportation of liquor has been made illegal! This is a period of time that lasted nearly for FOURTEEN years. Many people have been against this law, but yet have found ways to work around the law. As you can see in the picture above, many men are striking against the banning of liquor.


As you can see in the picture above, the people of the 1920’s have found their own way to work around the law against alcohol. These underground clubs were called speakesis. This is the place where people would go to drink alcohol. I guess laws and morals don’t go well together after all! You may be wondering how people knew about these so called “speakesis”, or how they found out about it. People were not let into these clubs unless they knew the secret password. Also, when cops would come and check the place out, the bartender could easily hide all the alcohol by flipping a switch. With that switch flipped, the low key anti prohibition club turned instantly into a diner without any suspicion.

And now you may be wondering just HOW did these people get all the alcohol? Well I guess the 1920’s are in luck because bootleggers were everywhere! These ladies were called bootleggers for hiding alcohol in their long coats. The would often strap them to their legs so it would be easily smuggled into the clubs. Looks like law can’t stop these crazy people from what they really want! As the saying goes, “law cannot govern moral.”

flappers of the 1920's

Flappers of the 1920's:
Based on my findings, after World War 1 women finally gained the right to vote, found new independence, feminism, and the contempt for Prohibition began. More and more young women were giddy, excited, and rebellious.

They wanted to break away from the usual normalcy of daily life by wearing makeup, dressing less conservative, and listening to new jazz at provacative jazz clubs. They beagn dating freely and treating sex as a much more casual affair then their elders did before them. They drove vehicles, drank excessively, and even occasionally used cocaine.

Flappers got their name by their way of dancing and their sense in style. The normal look was long hair, corsets, and long gowns but flappers changed the look dramticly during the 1920s. Many flappers wore short skirts showing off their legs, cut their hair to short bobs, and wore lots of makeup. They wore newsboy caps, cloche hats, layered necklaces, and horn-rimmed glasses. Heels came into fashion and dresses hung on hips and knee-length. Flappers made a it a point to separate themselves from the rest.